Gloria Paul was born in London, England on February 28, 1940. As a child she studied dance and took singing lessons. She became a dancer at the Lido de Paris and a member of the famous dancing troupe the “Blue Belle Girls”. She moved to Italy in the early 1960s and appeared in several comedy films with Toto and Franco and Ciccio. Among them were Euro-westerns “For a Few Dollars Less”, “Two Sons of Ringo” both in 1966 and “Two R-R-Ringos from Texas” in 1967. She was considered for the the role of Domino Derval in the James Bond film “Thunderball” but lost out to Claudine Auger. Her last film role was in 1996's “Esercizi di stile”, when she was injured in an accident when a water heater fell off a wall and shattered vertebrae in her back and broke her legs. She was confined to a wheelchair for a period of time and had to undertake a long period of physical therapy. After her recovery she returned to television in 2008 on “I miglioni anni” directed by Carlo Conti. Gloria was married to composer Piero Piccioni until his death in 2004. Today we celebrate Gloria Paul's 70th birthday.

El Cisco has been blamed for robbing the bank in Dallas. A crime he has not committed. For five years he's been a wanted man and the law has searched and chased him throughout the West. Meanwhile Cisco has been in search of the real criminals. His search leads him to the town of Calabasas, New Mexico where he's hired by rancher Lowell. The town is in the control of a gang of Mexican bandits who are led by Capobanda/Torro/Tuscerora who is aided by the local deputy. The gang attacks the Lowell ranch and massacre the inhabitants and rape Edda Lowell. In order to get information Cisco pretends to join the outlaw gang who intend to rob the Calabasas bank. He beats them to the punch and now the outlaw gang is after him. In the end Cisco finds those who are guilty and they are made to pay the price using his explosive cigars and his “kisses on the foreheads” (a shot between the eyes).

Born Mario Novelli on February 26, 1940 in Rome, Italy we've come to know him by his stage name of Anthony Freeman. He was a stuntman and character actor during the Spaghetti Western era. Anthony's first screen appearance was in 1962's “The Rebel Gladiators” and he was still doing stunt work as late as 2004 in the film “Exorcist: The Beginning”. He's appeared in over 65 films during his career. Freeman appeared in such Euro-westerns as “Ballad of a Gunman”, “The Stranger Returns” both 1967, “And God Said to Cain” (1969), Dead Men Ride”, “A Gunman Called Dakota” both 1971 and “California” (1977). Today we celebrate Mario Novelli/Anthony Freeman's 70th birthday.

In a comic take-off of “God Forgives... I' Don't”, two small time horse thieves steal a golden chariot which was built by the bandit El Diablo from gold stolen from the army. Pretending to be dead to throw the thieves off, two of his henchmen Angel Face and Lightning are convinced El Diablo has deposited the gold in a bank. They force Franco and Cicio to help them rob the bank but find the safe empty. The two horse thieves are accused of hiding the gold and when El Diablo turns up alive our heroes are forced to face all three of the outlaws. Just in time the soldiers arrive and arrest El Diablo while Angel Face and Lightning escape. The gold is returned and Franco and Ciccio receive the rewards for the wanted outlaws.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The next stop on Sam and Jill's ride to Sweetwater was the stop at the way station. Part saloon, part stable this location is almost impossible to find. When I visited the site in 2007 we went with a guide who knew pretty much where the location should be. Take the dirt road that the tourist's and tour guides travel to Ford's Point. It is a lookout that you can have your picture taken on or pay for a Navajo to sit on his horse and have his picture taken. The photo above is taken from Ford's Point while the photo from the film below is a few miles to the right of Ford's Point. There is a usually dry stream bed that is on the opposite side of the dirt road from here and you can follow it back a mile or two. You will be on the back side of Merrick's Peak. If you walk along the stream bed on the Merrick side of the creek you should find signs of bricks, logs and if exposed the foundations for the way station. Leone used this site as it is on or near the location of the house used in John Wayne's “The Searchers”. This site is not on the normal guided tours or any road. You'll need a four-wheel drive vehicle and someone who knows the location.

On Christmas Day in 1855 near Jasper, Arizona, a blacksmith's wife dies while giving birth to a son. When the embittered father, John Novak, names the child Cain, three of Jasper's prominent citizens--Mayor Carrillo, Dr. Carter, and Judge Perkins--baptize the boy Joe and practically adopt him. Known as the Christmas Kid, the rebellious Joe grows up; and when the welfare of Jasper is threatened by the unscrupulous gambler and promoter Mike Culligan, he reluctantly agrees to replace the spineless Sheriff Anderson. Culligan, however, uses his girl friend, Marie Lefleur, to charm Joe, and she soon has him under Culligan's control. When Joe's drunken father is killed in a barroom brawl, Joe despairs, hands in his badge, and forsakes guns and killing. As a romance develops between Marie and Joe, he persuades her to leave Culligan and return to her home; but, as she is leaving, she is gunned down by two of Culligan's henchmen, Karl and Burt. The crime spurs Joe back into action and so enrages the townspeople that they burn down Culligan's gambling-dance hall. Culligan then uses Joe's weakling childhood friend, Jud Walters, to frame the Christmas Kid as a killer-thief. With evidence stacked against him, Joe is sentenced to be hanged along with Karl and Burt. When the latter two are swept from their horses to swing in the air, however, Joe's horse does not move, for his loyal friends who know of Joe's innocence have hobbled the animal's legs. At this point Jud comes forth to tell the truth about Culligan's villainy. Though the trapped Culligan kills Jud, he himself is shot to death by Mayor Carrillo. Joe, the Christmas Kid, is now free to bring peace again to Jasper.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Román Arizanaverreta was one of the unsung Spanish character actors who probably was more active behind the scenes then in front of them as an actor and stuntman. His first noted screen appearance seems to be “Charge of the 7th” in 1964. The IMDb lists 17 films he appeared in as an actor, the last being “El síndrome de Ulises” a 2007 TV mini-series. He was also a stuntman in the 1980s. He's listed under various spellings of his name but his most remembered appearance was as the half-shaven gunman in “For a Few Dollars More” who tells Manco to, “Let Red (Cavanaugh) go!”. Manco takes a double-take in the bar-room mirror at the man with half a beard and two other gunmen standing in the saloon's doorway behind him. He then spins around and shoots them down.

Born Sylvette Héry on February 22, 1950 in Paris, France she took her stage name from the sound of a cat Miou Miou. She was raised in Paris by her mother and then took up acting, making her screen debut in 1971's “La vie sentimentale de Georges Le Teur” and “La Cavale” both in 1971. Her performances showed both innocence and strength. Her stardom came in 1974's “Les Valseuses” and she began receiving offers for leads in comedy films and dramas. In 1979 she received a Cesar Award for her performance in “La dérobade” (Memoirs of a French Whore). Her film career is still going even after her appearance in a Eurowestern “The Genius” (1976) with Terence Hill. She is the mother of actress Jeann Héry. Today we celebrate Miou Miou's 60th birthday.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

I learned today from Robert Woods that American actor Ken Clark died last June in Rome, Italy where he had been living. Born Kenneth Donovan Clark on June 4, 1927 in Neffs, Ohio. Clark was a model before signing a contract at 20th Century-Fox and made appearances in several 1950's films. Ken appeared in five films in 1956, three being westerns. By the end of the 1950s Fox did not renew his contract. Clark continued his career appearing in low-budget Sci-Fi films suchas “Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959) and “12 to the Moon” (1960). He also appeared on several TV shows during this time and shot a pilot episode for “Brock Callahan” but it was not picked up. Clark decided to go to Europe and see if he could cash in on the 'Sword and Sandal' craze. Here he became a recognized star and appeared in a number of spy, giallo and western films. His Eurowesterns were: “The Road to Ft. Alamo” (1964), “Savage Gringo” (1966) and “A Man Called Sledge” (1969). Ken continued to act and appear on TV until the late 1990s. He decided to make Rome, Italy his home and died there of a heart attack sometime in June 2009.

Having long suffered the stigma of being part-Indian, New Mexico horse breeder Chino Valdez wants nothing more than to be left alone with his beloved horses. Even so, Chino opens his heart and his home to a teenage runaway named Jamie Wagner, who becomes his protégé. But things take an unpleasant turn when the formerly taciturn Chino falls in love with Louise, the half-sister of neighboring and antagonistic rancher Maral. After several run-ins with Maral and his ranch-hands Chino is forced to leave his ranch. When Maral's men try and take his horses he evens the score and sets them and himself free.

Born Karl Hyrenbach on February 21, 1944 in Lindau, Bavaria, Germany, we know him as Peter Lee Lawrence. He had been living with his mother in Nice, France and appearing in photo novels as Pierre Clément. His first role was in the flashback scene in Sergio Leone's “For a Few Dollars More” as Colonel Mortimer's sister's fiancé . He would go on to appear in over 15 Eurowesterns, among them “Fury of Johnny Kid”, “Killer Caliber .32”, “Days of Violence” and For a Few Bullets More” all 1967. “Killer Adios” (1968), “Garringo” (1969), “Another Dollar for the MacGregors” (1970). He was sometimes credited as Arthur Grant and was one of the stars of the Spaghetti Western era but also acted in other films such as his leading performance in “Black Beauty” (1971). His last film appearance was in 1974's “ Los Caballeros del Botón de Ancla”. He was married to actress Cristina Galbo from 1969-1974. There has been controversy about Lawrence's death at the age of 30 on April 20, 1974 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. The often told story was he died by suicide, but recently this story has been contradicted by people who knew him including actress Erika Blanc and his wife Cristina Galbo, who have said he died of a brain tumor in a hospital surrounded by family. Today we celebrate what would have been Peter Lee Lawrence's 66th birthday. I mistakenly had his birth year as 2010 so I will leave this post to correct the mis-information I had and you can read Cristina Galbo's reply.

Gianfranco Parolini was born in Rome on February 20, 1930. He began his career as an assistant to director Roberto Rossellini on the 1950 film “Francesco, giullare di Dio”. He wrote and directed his first film “Il bacio dell'Aurora” in 1953. He would go on to direct over 30 films for the screen and TV. He specialized in mythological, adventure, spy and westerns. He was Spaghetti western genre favorite using the moniker Frank Kramer, with such films as “Johnny West” (1965), “Sartana” (1968), the Sabata series (1969-1971), and “God's Gun” (1976). He is also widely known as the director of the “Kommissar X” films. In the 1990s he drifted into television production. Today we celebrate Gianfranco Parolini's 80th birthday.

In the early days of America colonization, the Delaware and Huron tribes are locked in their age-old conflict, but now there is a growing danger as the British and French forces begin to encroach on their territory, fighting to colonize the Americas. Chingachgook a Mohican, living with the Delwares since his tribe was exterminated, is preparing to marry Wahtawa when it is discovered that she has been spirited away by the Hurons. Along with his friend, the trapper Deerslayer, he sets out in persuit. Deerslayer meets his friend Harry Hurry and they travel to the floating house of Tom Hutter on the lake. Chingachgook arrives there too, but finds Harry and Tom have a real hatred of the Red Men and plan to visit the Huron village to collect scalps. They are quickly captured by the Indians and Chingachgook and Deerslayer have to work out how to save the men and Wahtawa. Wahtawa is saved and she returns to the Delawares with Chingachgook and Deerslayer returns to his life in the wilderness.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Caterino Bertaglia was born on February 18, 1930, Corbola, Rovigo, Italy. We know him by his stage name of Rik Battaglia and he would go on to apppear in over 100 films from the 1955 to 1999. He never met his father and seldom saw his mother. He was raised by his grandmother. Rik went to sea at the age of 17 and worked on a freighter. He was discovered in a bar and signed to his first film in 1955's “Del la donna” opposite Sophia Loren. He then took two years of drama classes. He then appeared in a number of costume and sword and sandal films. He became a regular in the Karl May films but greatly disliked by the German fans when his character was responsible for the death of Winnetou in “Winnetou III” (aka “The Desperado Trail”). Rik then became an outstanding villain when the Spaghetti western genre took hold of the Italian film industry. Some of his more famous roles were “Old Shatterhand” (1963), “Black Jack” (1968), “Duck You Sucker” (1971), “White Fang” (1973) “Challenge to White Fang” (1974), “The Genius” (1975) and “A Man Called Blade” (1977). Rik retired from films in 1999. Today we celebrate Rik Battaglia's 80th birthday.

A hired gun named Clayton Drumm is all set to hang when he is given a last minute chance to escape the gallows if he will agree to do a job for a railroad company. A homesteader named Matthew Sebanek has refused to sell his land to the company which has caused a major problem. Clayton readily accepts the proposition and heads for the Sebanek ranch. He meets Matthew and his beautiful young wife Catherine. Catherine immediately is drawn to Drumm and falls in love with him which complicates matters. Clayton also becomes friends with Matthew but lust takes over and he and Catherine eventually make love. When Matthew finds out he beats Catherine who during the fight thinks she has killed Matthew and runs off with Drumm. Sebanek recovers and asks his brothers to help him track down Clayton and Catherine. The railroad discovers that Clayton has double-crossed them and decides to eliminate everyone who stands in their way. Clayton returns with Catherine to help Matthew fight off the railroad's hired killers.

Born Max Goldstein on February 17, 1910 in the Bronx, New York. He attended New York City College where he appeared in a number of stage plays. He then was accepted into Eva Le Gallienne's theater company along with another actor named John Garfield. He was then signed to a contract at Columbia Studios. His scarred complexion and brooding manner made him a perfect for roles as heavies. He found himself under suspicion by the McCarthy committee and admitted he once belonged to the Communist Party. He was blacklisted and moved to Europe where he appeared in a number of Italian productions during the 1960s. Among them were two Eurowestern “Custer of the West” (1967) and "The 5-Man Army" (1969). He returned to the United States and became a TV director. He was married to screenwriter Fanya Foss from 1942 until her death in 1992 and is the father of actress Toni Lawrence. Marc died on November 28, 2005 in Palm Springs, California. Today we remember him on what would have been his 100th birthday.

He was born Arthur Lee Hunnicutt on February 17, 1910, Gravelly, Arkansas. He attended Arkansas State Teachers College during the depression but had to drop out when his funds were depleted. Acting in college plays he took up acting and joined a theatre group in Massachusetts, then migrated to New York to work on Broadway. He made his first film in “Wildcat” (1942) starring Richard Arlen. By now he had perfected his Arkansas drawl and would put it to good use in the next 45 years on the screen. He added a beard and girzzled look to his persona. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1952's “Big Sky” directed by Howard Hawks for his portrayal of Zeb Calloway.

From that point, Hunnicutt was in constant demand. He played Davy Crockett in The Last Command (1955), an elderly Butch Cassidy in Cat Ballou (1965), and a sidekick to John Wayne in El Dorado (1966). Hunnicutt also played television roles, such as the patriarch of a feuding mountain family on The Andy Griffith Show. He had other memorable roles on a variety of television series, including Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Perry Mason. Hunnicutt appeared in one Eurowestern as Kid White in 1974's “The Spikes Gang” starring Lee Marvin. Hunnicutt died of mouth cancer on September 27, 1979 at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, California. Today we celebrate what would have been Arthur Hunnicutt's 100th birthday.

“The Voice” - Edda Dell'Orso was born on February 16, 1935 in Genoa, Italy. She was a member of “Franco Potenza's Choir” and Alessandro Alessandroni's “I Cantori Moderni” and her angelic voice was used extensively in many of Ennio Morricone's scores, especially his westerns. She also appears in scores by Bruno Nicolai, Piero Piccioni, Roberto Pregadio and Luis Bacalov.Her beautifully haunting voice will always be remembered for her performances in “Once Upon a Time in the West” and again in 'The Ecstasy of Gold' from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Morricone uses voices as instruments and Edda's is one of the best of all time. She is also heard on the “Duck You Sucker” score. She is heard in Dario Argento's “The Bird With the Crystal Plumage” and also on the Goblin score for “Why Do They Kill Themselves” (1976). She is married to composer, conductor Giacomo Dell'Orso and they live in Rome. Today we celebrate Edda Dell'Orso's 75th birthday.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Gian Fabio Bosco, half of the famous comedy team of Ric and Gian. died in a Lavagna, Genoa hospital on Sunday, February 14, 2010. He was 73. Bosco had been hospitalized for several days suffering from an aneurism. Born in Florence, Italy on July 30, 1936 he had acted alone and teamed with Ric Miniggio as Ric and Gian for more than 60 years. Gian's parents were both stage actors and he first appeared on stage at the age of 8, in the Gilberto Govi acting theater along with his parents. He then worked with comedians Gino Bramieri and then Mario Ferrero before meeting singer/dancer Riccardo Miniggio in the '50s. They teamed together as Jerry and Fabio until later going by Ric and Gian. The comedy team lasted until 1987 when they both decided to go their separate ways. Gian then focused on a solo career in theater and films. He was still acting on television into the current century. Gian Fabio Bosco made one Eurowestern with his partner Riccardo Miniggio in the 1967 film Ric & Gian all conquista del West (Rick & John Conquerors the West).

Roberto Colás Iglesias was born on February 15, 1905 in Valparaiso, Chile. Taking the stage name of Roberto Rey he appeared in his first film “Madrid en el año 2000” (1925) directed by Manuel Noriega. He would go on to make over 50+ films among them one Eurowestern “Gunfighters of Casa Grande” as Don Castellar de Verdugo in 1963. Roberto Rey died of a heart attack on May 30, 1972 in Madrid Spain. We remember him today on what would have been his 105th birthday.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

José Álvarez Canalejas was born in Madrid, Spain on February 14, 1925. He is the brother of actress Lina Canalejas [1932- ] and the brother-in-law of actress Lina Yegros [1914-1978]. José was one of the top Spanish character actors during the Spaghetti western era. He appeared in “Fistful of Dollars” (1964) as Alvaro and “For a Few Dollars More” (1965) as Chico. He would go on to play in many of the top western productions of the era and was a part of the team of José Manuel Martin, Frank Brana, Aldo Sambrell, Antonio Molino Rojo and Lorenzo Robledo who always seemed to appear in the same films together. Canalejas sometimes was credited as Joe Camel and appeared as gang members, soldiers, Mexicans and ranch hands. Seldom did he appear as the hero more likely on the side of the villain. He was easily recognizable and always turned in a rewarding performance. Today we celebrate his 85th birthday.

In “Once Upon a Time in the West” when Sam and Jill leave Flagstone on their way to Sweetwater the film switches location from Almeria, Spain to Monument Valley which occupies parts of Arizona and Utah in the United States. Monument Valley is on the Navajo Reservation and the dirt roads used in the movie are the same dirt roads you can drive down in your car or take a tour bus. The photo above and below show the 'Mittens' as they look like the gloves small children wear with a predominant thumb and to the right Merrick Butte. These are the three of the most prominent landmarks that are photographed by anyone visiting the park. Sam's travel to Sweetwater shows several more landmarks of Monument Valley. It's not easy to reach as it is not near any large city but far out in the wilderness but if at all possible it is still worth your while to see it once in your lifetime.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Bruno Ariè is another of the countless Italian character actors, stuntmen employed during the '60s and '70s for action and adventure films. Ariè's first recorded film was in 1959's “Hannibal” as a wrestler. He appeared in around 35 Euro-westerns during the next two decades. Usually playing a henchman, gang member and a few roles with a designated character. Later he turned to being a stunt coordinator. When and where he was born or if he's still alive has not been documented as far as I can find. Any additional information that anyone could supply would be greatly appreciated.

In 1880 Montana a German shepard named Jacob “Alaska” Precht has a flock of sheep and is looking for a place to spend the winter with this flock. A local rancher named Johnson wants no part of the shepard or his flock wintering in the territory. Johnson holds captive a Lakota Indian boy named Chetan as a suspect in stealing a horse. Johnson wants to hang the boy but Alaska saves him and takes him in as a helper. Chetan, who now distrusts all white men refuses the offer and flees to his Indian village. Alaska tracts him there and finds the village destroyed and the inhabitants killed. Chetan tries to kill Alaska because he is a white man who he blames for the massacre of his tirbe. They eventually learn to trust each other and together they fight against Johnson and his sons. Johnson is too strong so the Alaska and Chetan take the sheep herd and move on.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Western movie and television legend Robert F. "Bobby" Hoy, who appeared in many western productions died Monday January 8, 2010 after a six-month battle with cancer. He was 82. Days before, Hoy was honored with the prestigious Golden Boot award by the Motion Picture & Television Fund, commemorating his contribution to the genre of Western television and movies in all three award categories -- acting, stunt work and directing. Bob Fuller, representing the Golden Boot committee, presented the 2010 award to Hoy January 28th in the penthouse suite at Northridge Hospital. It marked the first time the Golden Boot was given to an honoree in the hospital.

In his 55-year career as an actor, Hoy played a wide variety of movie and television roles ranging from cowboys to spies. He was best-known for his role as ranch hand Joe Butler on "The High Chaparral," a TV western that aired four seasons from 1967 to 1971. His acting roles in more than 67 films included "Bite the Bullet," "The Outlaw Josey Wales," The "Legend of the Lone Ranger," "The Gambler II," "Nevada Smith," "Bronco Billy," "The Enforcer" and "The Great Race." On the small screen, Hoy appeared in more than 75 TV programs in addition to "The High Chapparal," including "Wanted: Dead or Alive," "Walker: Texas Ranger," "JAG," "Dallas" (recurring role), "The Wild, Wild West," "Magnum P.I." (five episodes), "The Young Riders" and "Zorro."

Behind the camera, Hoy was second unit director and stunt coordinator in Spain for the TV series "The New Zorro" and on the pilot of "The Three Musketeers."In more than 100 appearances as stuntman, Hoy doubled for stars such as Tony Curtis, Charles Bronson, Audie Murphy, Tyrone Power, David Janssen, Telly Savalas and Jay Silverheels, among many others.

Hoy performed stunts for "The Lone Ranger," "The Defiant Ones," "Spartacus," "River of No Return," "Revenge of the Creature" and many more films and TV shows."Bobby was one of the rare stuntmen who also became an actor," Kiva Hoy said Monday. "He was more and more in demand as an actor as his (stunt) career progressed. People started calling him for roles, not just stunts. He was very much the reluctant actor, along the lines of (Academy Award-winner) Richard Farnsworth."Hoy and Williams were founding members of The Stuntman's Association of Motion Pictures in 1961. The organization awarded Hoy its Lifetime Achievement award in August 2009, in recognition for his "extraordinary achievements and dedication to excellence."

Hoy was also a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, the Directors Guild of America, AFTRA and the Screen Actors Guild.

Maurizio Merli was born on February 8, 1940 in Rome, Italy. He made a name for himself as an actor in crime films during the 1970s do to his strong resemblance to Italian actor Franco Nero. During his peak he starred in two Euro-westerns “White Fang to the Rescue” (1974) as Burt Halloway/ Benjamin 'Ben' Dover and in the classic “A Man Called Blade” (1977) as Mannaja/Blade. He also apparently appeared as a Union soldier in the Franco & Ciccio 1967 film “Two R-R-Ringos from Texas”. Merli had a great screen presence and it is a shame he found stardom after the decline of the Spaghetti Western genre as he would have been one of its icons. Sadly Merli passed away of a heart attack after a tennis match on March 10, 1989 in Rome. Maurizio is the father of Maurizio Matteo Merli. Today we remember him on what would have been his 70th birthday.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.